Monday, March 30, 2009

Docs at ACC Meeting Treated to "PolyPill" Trial Results

Reuters reports on a 2,053-patient, Indian clinical trial that evaluated a "polypill" containing low doses of three blood-pressure drugs from different classes -- thiazide, atenolol and ramipril -- as well as the statin cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor and aspirin.

The trial tested whether the pill (an artist's conception of the pill is shown on the left) leads to meaningful changes in heart risk factors. Results of the study were presented at the American College of Cardiology scientific meeting in Orlando.

Way back in 2006 I suggested another type of poly pill for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. My proposed poly pill would combine Norvasc (for hypertension), Lipitor (for cholesterol), and Viagra (for ED caused by high cholesterol) (see "Caduet, Smaduet! Add some wood to the fire!"). You could easily throw in 81 mg of aspirin too!

The advantage of my pill combination is simple: Much better compliance, at least among male patients!

2 comments:

I saw two problems brought up with this pill at http://www.newsy.com/videos/super_heart_pill/:

1. It will probably be used, against doctors' advice, as a replacement to exercise and diet. There's nothing really we can do about this. I'd still say having the pill is better than not.

2. Western pharmacies probably won't be as interested because it will be incredibly inexpensive. Though with how widespread distribution would be, it's possible quantities of sales may offset the low price.

About the Author

Pharmaguy™ (@pharmaguy) is a "constructive critic" of the pharmaceutical industry. He is not shy about giving his opinion, which is respected by many insiders who share some of his views but who are unable to voice them on their own.